The Illinois Supreme Court has teed up a significant insurance question: Does a standard pollution exclusion bar coverage when the alleged “pollution” was not considered to be pollution when the policy issued—where the...more
IBM recently filed a declaratory judgment action against multiple insurers seeking coverage for environmental remediation costs. The complaint contains lessons for policyholders facing long-tail environmental exposure claims....more
The question of whether ethylene oxide emissions constitute traditional environmental pollution for the purpose of interpreting commercial general liability pollution exclusions remains unsettled in many jurisdictions across...more
As temperatures in the Northeast have made it feel more like winter than spring, it’s only fitting that we begin our April Insurance Update with a case from Alaska. There, the Alaska Supreme Court decides for the first time...more
This article will discuss policyholder concerns after a California federal court recently found that some PFAS claims in an MDL were excluded under a pollution exclusion, but others were not. The case is Nat'l Foam, Inc. v....more
The insureds were sued for alleged environmental contamination from the operation of a marine terminal and chemical storage facility. The claimants alleged that hazardous materials leaked from storage tanks over a fifty-year...more
In Citizens Ins. Co. of Am., et al. v. Augusta Chiller Service, Inc., et al., the Southern District of Georgia granted insurers' motions for summary judgment in part on their duty to defend under a primary and excess policy...more
New Jersey appeals court concludes that claims by a condominium resident alleging injury from indoor exposure to mold did not fall within a “consumption” exception to mold exclusions* in CGL policies where the resident...more
In Aloha Petroleum Ltd. v. National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh (Aloha), the Supreme Court of Hawai’i held that, while the climate change litigation satisfied the “occurrence” requirement, greenhouse gases...more
Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances ("PFAS") represent major exposures to insurers and their policyholders. Thousands of lawsuits are pending nationwide, and numerous large settlements have already been reached. Insurers are...more
In a significant ruling, the Hawaii Supreme Court has determined that AIG is not required to provide coverage for a lawsuit against Sunoco subsidiary, Aloha Petroleum. The Hawaii court found a pollution exclusion in AIG’s...more
On October 7, 2024, the Hawaii Supreme Court, responding to questions certified by the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii, determined that insurers had no duty to defend Aloha Petroleum ("Aloha") in two...more
The Supreme Court of the State of Hawaii (“Hawaiian Court”) addressed in an October 7th Opinion an insurance coverage issue arising in a climate litigation matter. See Aloha Petroleum, Ltd. vs. National Union Fire Insurance...more
S.K.A.V., L.L.C. v. Indep. Specialty Ins. Co., 103 F.4th 1121 (5th Cir. 2024) Fifth Circuit predicts that, as amended, a Louisiana statute (Revised Statute § 22:868)* prohibiting certain insurance contracts from depriving...more
Concerns surrounding plastic, particularly microplastics and synthetic microfiber, pollution are growing. As federal and state governments continue to focus on this issue, lawsuits seeking to hold companies accountable for...more
We touch upon various issues in our August insurance update. The Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts considers the meaning of “surface waters” and whether the sublimit for floods applies when pooled water on a roof...more
Paraco Gas Corporation purchased an insurance policy for Directors, Officers and Private Company Liability (“D&O”) from Ironshore Indemnity, Inc. that covered certain acts of Paraco’s officers and directors. Paraco...more
It’s not often that the U.S. Supreme Court weighs in on insurance issues. That’s because the McCarran-Ferguson Act gives states the primary authority to regulate the business of insurance. So when the Supreme Court speaks on...more
Insurers often include exclusions within their liability policies to prohibit coverage for claims arising out of pollution exposure. The exact wording of the exclusion can differ significantly, but the key issue is whether...more
Ohio presents unique challenges to practitioners handling insurance claims in the state. Join Goldberg Segalla partners Michael A. Hamilton and Sean P. Hvisdas as they host a live, interactive webinar on some of the most...more
In Wesco Insurance Co. v. Brad Ingram Construction, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a summary judgment ruling in favor of Wesco Insurance Co. after a split panel concluded that toxic dust and debris from a...more
In Dyno Nobel v. Steadfast Insurance Co., the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals recently held that, under Utah law, where a specific state is listed in an endorsement heading, coverage under the endorsement is limited to claims...more
The Delaware Court of Chancery entered an order placing Arrowood into liquidation on November 8, 2023 and set the proof of claim deadline for January 15, 2025. Arrowood was formed in 2006 to take on Royal Sun Alliance’s...more
When determining whether insurance coverage exists for a claim, a crucial consideration is whether the claim involves an event or occurrence that took place in a state other than where the relevant policy was delivered. This...more
Per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) represent major exposures to insurers and their policyholders. Thousands of lawsuits are pending nationwide and several large settlements have already been reached. Insurers are...more